"After dark, tonight," he suggested, "do you think
we could slip away without anyone noticing?"

"I suppose so," replied Charlie. "Why do you ask?"

"Now that our chaperons have gotten married," smiled Adam, "the only
thing left to us is the night. Wouldn't you like to take just one more ramble on
the Mojave, before I go? We could hike out to Harrison's Ravine, and watch the moon
glide overhead. What do you think?"

"'Harrison's Ravine'?" repeated Charlie, incredulously. "Isn't that
more than an hour's walk from here? Besides, we couldn't be away that long, by ourselves!
Adam, I know we wouldn't fool around before we got married, but why put temptation
in our way like that?"

"Where's you're spontaneity, Charlie-girl?" he coaxed. "Please, do
this for me."

"I'll come," said Charlie, "if we take Bill with us, too."

"Consider it done!" exclaimed Adam, springing up from the couch. "I'll
get him to come, if I have to promise half my royalties! First, I'll go clear the
hike with you grandmother. Thanks for going along with this, Charlie! Tonight will
have to last me a long time."

To Adam's relief, Vera consented, while Kevin considered it his duty as bodyguard
to come. Bill, on the other hand, was another matter. His idea of enjoying the outdoors
was a leisure game of golf, or maybe a little tennis. Long walks in the middle of
the desert at night, were not his idea of fun. However, since Adam was going
to give the tour his undivided attention for the next several months, Bill finally
agreed.

"Thanks, Grandma," said Charlie, after Adam had gone home to get a little
sleep before the outing that night. "You made him very happy."

"No," smiled Vera, "you're the one who's making him happy. Go get
some rest, yourself. The sun won't set until about five o' clock, so you have time
to get in a little sleep."

"Grandma," asked Charlie, "if I decide to go house hunting, would
you come with me? I would appreciate your opinion."

"Of course, Pumpkin," replied Vera, thankful that she was to have some
input on the decision.

Charlie went to her bedroom, for now that Maggie was gone, she could sleep in her
own bed, instead of on the couch in the living room. She brushed her teeth, changed
into a nightgown, and climbed into bed. Before long, Charlie was fast asleep.

At five in the evening, Vera woke her granddaughter up.

"The sun is setting," she announced.

Charlie climbed out of bed and changed clothes. It felt a little surreal to have
slept the middle of the day away, only to wake up before nightfall.

"Do you still have that backpack?" asked Vera, as Charlie tied on her hiking
shoes.

"I think it's in the closet," replied Charlie. "What do you want it
for?"

"I'm going to pack you and the others a light meal," explained the old
woman, searching the closet for the article. "I thought you might get hungry
after hiking so far."

"Thanks, Grandma," smiled the teenager. "That sounds like a good idea."

Legal Disclaimer: The characters and events depicted in these love stories are fictitious, and should not to be interpreted as medical or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.